Rail fastener assembly

ABSTRACT

A rail-mounting arrangement includes a crosstie provided with a rail-receiving platform including a longitudinal recess therein to accommodate a clip-type rail anchor thereby precluding rail creep in either direction. Rail gage clips are removably attached to the crosstie on both sides of the rail base to maintain the prescribed gage and include means to prevent displacement thereof during the inherent rail wave motion.

United States. Patent [72] Inventor Emerson J. Ruble 1,218,141 3/1917 Wells 238/107 Hinsdale,1ll. 2,167,870 8/1939 Boyce... 238/338 [21] Appl. No. 874,869 2,299,354 10/1942 Spencer 1 238/315 [22] Filed NOV-7, 1969 3,387,781 6/1968 Moses etal...... 238/283 [45] Patented Nov. 2, 1971 3,460,755 8/1969 Johnson et a1... 238/349 31 Assignee J 3,519,205 7/1970 Monclin et al 238/349 oak Brook Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bensch 4 RML FASTENER ASSEMBLY Anorneys- Emory L. Groff and Emory L. Groff, Jr.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S.Cl 238/315, 238/29, 238/283, 238/339 [51] Int. Cl E01b 13/00, ABSTRACT; A raipmouming arrangement includes a ctossfie I5011309/00 provided with a rail-receiving platform including a longitu- 0 Search dinal recess [herein to accommodate a cfipqype ail anchor I 275,3l5,32l,349,107,283,3l5-330,29,3 thereby precluding rail creep in either direction. Rail gage R i ed clips are removably attached to the crosstie on both sides of [56] the rail base to maintain the prescribed gage and include UNITED STATES PATENTS means to prevent displacement thereof during the inherent 1,241,202 9/1917 Diehl 238/316 rail wave motion.

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' SHEET 2 OF 2 ENXERSON J. RUBLE BY A ORNEY RAIL FASTENER ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to a railway-fastening as sembly and more particularly to an improved means for supporting and retaining a rail upon a crosstie.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in an installation involving the use of fabricated crossties, such as those manufactured of prestressed concrete or plastic. A tremendous interest is now being generated favoring the use of such manmade crossties which may be attributed to both the increasing shortage of wooden crossties, as well as the significant advances now being made in the production of concrete and plastic crossties. As heretofore, the same two principal physical reactions are present when using either concrete or plastic ties, namely, wave motion and rail creep. In the case of wooden ties, spikes are used to control the rail gage while any of numerous types of rail clips or anchors are available in order to limit the creep of the rail.

Quite obviously, the very nature of the construction of a concrete or plastic tie requires a different approach in order to control these rail forces. By the present rail fastener assembly, an arrangement is provided wherein a prestressed concrete or plastic crosstie is constructed to provide, with a single rail anchor of standard form, resistance to rail creeping as produced by rail travel in either direction, while rail gage clips are included which allow normal motion of the rail but preclude pumping of the ties in the supporting ballast.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved rail fastener assembly including rail gage clips and rail anchors. 1

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rail fastener assembly particularly adapted for use with a prestressed concrete or plastic crosstie and including means for maintaining gage and unaffected by wave motion of the rail during passage of traffic as well as means for restricting creeping of the rails.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail fastener assembly including means maintaining rail gage upon a crosstie, together with additional means in the fonn of a single rail anchor for restricting creeping of the rail in either direction.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail fastener assembly including a crosstie having means permitting the installation and removal of a single rail anchor within the area of the central longitudinal axis of the crosstie.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail fastener assembly including a crosstie having means thereon serving both to provide a tie pad for the cushion support of the rail as well as providing means for restricting the movement of a rail anchor as applied to the rail base.

With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. A preferred and practical embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, of the present invention at the point where one rail is secured to one end of a crosstie.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and with the left-hand gage clip included for a more complete understanding.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-- 3 of FIG. 2.

F IG. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of one of the clip assemblies on the gage side of the rail.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the crosstie of the present invention.

FIG. 6 in top plan view of the crosstie of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of one of the rail gage clips according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of another one of the rail gage clips according to the present invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are elevation views of modifications of the rail gage clips of FIG. 7 and 8, respectively.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Referring now to the drawings, the present invention will be seen to comprise a plurality of components specifically constructed and uniquely arranged to provide an improved rail fastener assembly. Although quite obviously the present concept may be carried out by utilizing crossties constructed of wood, it will be appreciated that the greatest advantage will be accrued when using either a prestressed concrete crosstie or a plastic crosstie, the former of which have been used in the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

A prestressed concrete crosstie, generally designated T, is shown most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6 and it will be understood that the overall configuration of this crosstie may be of any suitable design, such as the trapezoidal vertical section of the crosstie T. The uniqueness of the crosstie in the present invention comprises the area intermediate the central shank l of the crosstie and the field end portions 2-2. This area, naturally, encompasses the rail receiving portions and includes the uppermost rail receiving surface 3, which surface is planar and may be inclined as shown in the drawings to provide for canting of the rail, a well-known installation procedure. The railreceiving surface 3 is preferably recessed below the plane of the oppositely disposed crosstie field portion 2 and gage side portion 4 and is bounded at its longitudinal limits by a trans versely extending rounded pocket 5 adjacent the field end portion 2 of the crosstie and a transversely extending rounded shoulder 6 adjacent the gage side portion 4 of the crosstie. As will be seen most clearly from the plan view of FIG. 6, a longitudinally extending recess or relief 7 is provided in the upper portion of the crosstie from a point within the gage side portion 4 to a point short of the rounded pocket 5. This recess which preferably extends along the central longitudinal axis of the crosstie provides access for the installation and removal of a standard form rail anchor such as the jaw-hook type of rail anchor, generally designated 8, and shown most clearly in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The referenced type rail anchor which is formed from T- shaped stock including oppositely extending lateral arms 9-9 and a central rib I0 is provided with a locking shoulder 11 at its free end and a curved hook 12 at its opposite end. The formation of the book 12 provides, with the lateral arms 9-9 an upper jaw 13 and a lower jaw 14 adapted to engage in a gripping fashion the top and bottom surfaces of the base flange 15 of a conventional rail R. As shown in FIG. 2, the shoulder 11 locks against the opposite edge of the rail base flange 15 to retain the rail anchor in position and discourage any movement of same longitudinally of the running length of the rail R. The manner of application and removal of this type of rail anchor is well known to those skilled in the art, this operation usually being accomplished either manually by means of a maul or automatically by means of a rail anchor driving machine. In either case, it will be apparent that sufiicient clearance must be provided both beneath the rail during application of the anchor as well as to the side of the rail adjacent that from which the applying force is directed. To provide both electrical insulation, as well as cushioned support, between the rail base flange l5 and the rail-receiving surface 3 of the tie, an insert 16 of any suitable dielectric composition is provided to completely line the walls of the longitudinal relief or recess 7. As will be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, this recess 7 includes a pair of opposed shoulder portions 70 and is likewise generally of a Tshaped configuration when viewed in transverse section so that a congruent cavity 17 will be thus produced for the reception of the somewhat similarly shaped rail anchor 8. The upper limits of the vertical sidewall of the insert 16 are bounded by a pair of outwardly extending lateral arms l8-I8 which are preferably of substantial thickness in comparison to the remaining portion of the insert 16 for reasons which will become apparent immediately hereinafter. Although the tongue 19 and upper cavity portion 17 of the recess 7 extend from a point well within the gage side portion 4 of the crosstie to a point short of the rounded pocket 5 adjacent the field side portion to the crosstie it will be understood that the lateral arms 18l8 do not extend from the entire length of the insert 16 but preferably extend only a distance which is equal to the overall width of the rail base flange 15. In this regard, reference should be made to FIG. 6 which most clearly illustrates a planar depression 20 provided within the rail-receiving surface 3 immediately beneath that area which will underlie the rail base flange 15. Merely as an example, it may be assumed that the thickness of the lateral arms 18- 18 is one-fourth inch in which case the depth of the planar depression 20 would be one-half that thickness, or oneeighth inch, thereby providing a thickness of one-eighth inch of the lateral arms l818 projecting upwardly above the plane of the surrounding rail-receiving surface 3 such that a rail base platform 21 is provided comprising a planar surface disposed in a plane significantly elevated from the adjacent plane of the rail-receiving surface 3.

In order to maintain the gage of a rail positioned upon the rail base platform 21 of the insert 16, a plurality of steel anchor nuts 22 are fixedly embedded within the crosstie T at the time of its fabrication. A pair of such anchor nuts 22 will most often be sufficient at each end of the crosstie in which case they are preferably disposed at diametrically opposed points beyond the two ends of the lateral arms or tie pad 18 18 of the insert 16. Quite obviously, to preclude future maintenance and to insure trouble-free operation, the anchor nuts 22 should be fabricated of a suitable corrosion-resistant material, such as stainless steel, and may be provided with a standard internal thread which is adapted to cooperate with a bolt 23 having a hexagonal or other type head 24 and a threaded shank 25.

In the placement of a rail base flange upon the tie pad formed by the lateral arms 18-18 of the insert 16, the gage of the rail R is assured by installation of a pair of rail gage clips, generally designated 26 and 27, respectively, which are securely attached in abutting relationship to the rail-receiving surface 3 by means of application of threaded bolts 23 through the rail gage clips and into the respective steel anchor nuts 22. The field side rail gage clip 26 and gage side rail gage clip 27 are generally similar in construction with one specific distinction which will be discussed hereinafter.

Referring first to their common characteristics, each clip will be seen to include a horizontal planar top section 28 with a rounded nose 29 at one end thereof while the other end is undercut to provide an outwardly projecting lip 30. From the bottom of the top section 28 at a point substantially intermediate the outer extremity of the lip 30 and the nose 29, extendsa downwardly directed leg 31 having a planar bottom foot 32 thereby providing, between the leg 31 and nose 29 a cutout portion 33 on the one side and a rail recess 34 on the opposite side adjacent the lip 30. The undersurface 35 of the lip 30 is inclined at an angle substantially the same as the inclination of the uppersurface of the rail base flange 15 while the front of the leg 31 is substantially vertically disposed to provide a shoulder 36 that will be disposed adjacent the outer edge of the rail base flange. As previously described, each of the rail gage clips 26 and 27 are securely anchored to the railreceiving surface 3 by means of the bolts 23, there being provided a vertically extending bore 37 through the intermediate portion of each clip such that when the bolts are tightened within the anchor nuts 22 the heads 24 thereof overlie the horizontal planer surface of the top sections 28 to tightly engage the clip foot 32 and nose 29 with the rail-receiving surface 3.

The principal distinction between the field side clip 26 and gage side clip 27 is that in the former instance the leg 31 is foreshortened, thus elevating the foot 32 of the clip 26 to a plane which is higher than the bottom of the nose 29 of the field side clip which modification is necessary to account for the inclination of the rail-receiving surface 3 as necessitated by the canted rail installation. As shown most clearly in F l6. 4, the shoulder 36 and the undersurface 35 of the lip 30 of each rail gage clip 26 and 27 is preferably provided with a layer of suitable insulation 38 such as plastic and, as will be seen in this FIG. as well as FIG. 2, when the rail gage clips are installed, sufficient clearance is provided between the insulation and both the top of the rail base flange 15 as well as the edge thereof. As an example, the insulation adjacent the top of the rail base flange may be spaced from the rail one-fourth inch while the insulation adjacent the edge of the rail base flange may be spaced therefrom one thirty-secondth of an inch, the former clearance allowing for the inherent wave motion of the rail during traffic thereover while the latter clearance provides for both proper tightening of each rail clip without any interference with the rail base flange as well as allows for the overrun in the width of the rail base during rolling in the mills as permitted in the rail specifications. This clearance above the top of the rail base is particularly important in an installation involving welded rail as it will preclude vertical buckling of the rail during instances of large thermal forces.

The modified rail gage clips 26a and 27a shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively, relate to a field side and gage side clip as utilized in an installation involving a Sis-inch rail base as opposed to the 6-inch rail base illustrated in conjunction with the clips 26 and 27. When using the rail base with the same crosstie T provided with anchor nuts 22 located as shown with the 6-inch rail base, it will be apparent that some modification of the rail gage clips is necessary and accordingly it will be understood that the distance from the clip bore 37 to the shoulder 36 is greater in the case of the clips 26a and 270. Additionally, these clips are provided with a notch 39 in the leg 31 at the intersection of the foot 32 and shoulder 36 to allow clearance for the tie pad portion 18 of the insert 16 thus permitting use of the single size insert for both a 5% and 6-inch rail base.

I claim:

1. A railway assembly including a crosstie, a rail having a base, means maintaining the gage of said rail upon said crosstie, and means restricting the longitudinal travel of said rail upon said crosstie, said crosstie having a rail-receiving surface on the upper surface thereof for the support of said rail base, said rail-receiving surface provided with a recess extending longitudinally of said crosstie, an insert of disparate material disposed within said recess, said gage means comprising gage clips attached to the upper surface of said crosstie and having lip portions overlying said rail base, said restricting means comprising a unitary rail anchor engaging said rail base, said anchor having a vertical rib depending from said rail base and freely insertable within said crosstie recess to provide a tie-engaging anchor during creeping of the rail, whereby wave motion of the rail and thus vertical movement of said anchor rib permits free vertical displacement of said anchor rib within said recess while restricting creeping of the rail as said rib engages the walls of said crosstie recess.

2. A railway assembly according to claim 1 wherein said insert is dielectric.

3. A railway assembly according to claim 1 wherein said insert includes lateral arms projecting outwardly from the top of said recess to provide a rail base platform in a plane above the plane of said crosstie rail-receiving surface.

4. A railway assembly according to claim 3 wherein said rail-receiving surface includes a planar depression adjacent said recess and said insert lateral arms are disposed within said depression.

5. A railway assembly including a crosstie, a rail having a base, means maintaining the gage of said rail upon said crosstie, and means restricting the longitudinal travel of said rail upon said crosstie, said crosstie having a rail-receiving surface on the upper surface thereof for the support of said rail base. said rail-receiving surface provided with a recess extending longitudinally of said crosstie, said gage means comprising gage clips attached to the upper surface of said crosstie and having lip portions overlying said rail base, said gage clips including a field side and a gage side clip disposed on opposite sides of said rail base, each said clip provided with a horizontal top section having a depending nose portion opposite said lip portion engaging said crosstie adjacent said rail-receiving surface, a leg depending from said top section intermediate said lip and nose portions and engaging said rail-receiving surface adjacent the edge of said rail base, said restricting means comprising a unitary rail anchor engaging said rail base, said anchor having a vertical rib depending from said rail base and freely insertable within said crosstie recess to provide a tie-engaging anchor during creeping of the rail, whereby wave motion of the rail and thus vertical movement of said anchor rib permits free vertical displacement of said anchor rib within said recess while restricting creeping of the rail as said rib engages the walls of said crosstie recess and said gage clip leg and lip portions are spaced from said rail base to accommodate wave motion of said rail without pumping of said crosstie.

6. A railway assembly according to claim 5 including a dielectric coating on the surface of said lip portion and leg juxtaposed said rail base.

7. A railway assembly including a crosstie, a rail having a base, means maintaining the gage of said rail upon said crosstie, and means restricting the longitudinal travel of said rail upon said crosstie, said crosstie having a rail-receiving surface on the upper surface thereof for the support of said rail base, said rail-receiving surface provided with a recess extending longitudinally of said crosstie, said recess having a T-shaped configuration in cross section and said crosstie includes a pair of opposed shoulder portions intermediate the top and bottom of said recess and defining therebetween a narrow tongue portion in the lower segment of the recess, said gage means comprising gage clips attached to the upper surface of said crosstie and having lip portions overlying said rail base, said restricting means comprising a T-shaped unitary rail anchor engaging said rail base, said anchor having a vertical rib depending from said rail base and freely insertable within said crosstie recess and its tongue portion to provide a tie-engaging anchor during creeping of the rail, whereby wave motion of the rail and thus vertical movement of said anchor rib permits free vertical displacement of said anchor rib within said recess while restricting creeping of the rail as said rib engages the walls of said crosstie recess.

8. A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein one end of said crosstie recess extends past said rail-receiving surface to permit installation and removal of said rail anchor with said rail base supported upon said rail-receiving surface.

9. A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein said rail anchor comprises a T-shaped stock and said recess is T- shaped in cross section.

10 A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein said recess is substantially medially disposed between the opposite sides of said crosstie and one of said clips is provided on each side of said rail and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said recess.

ll. A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein said crosstie comprises prestressed concrete.

12. A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein said crosstie comprises synthetic resin. 

1. A railway assembly including a crosstie, a rail having a base, means maintaining the gage of said rail upon said crosstie, and means restricting the longitudinal travel of said rail upon said crosstie, said crosstie having a rail-receiving surface on the upper surface thereof for the support of said rail base, said rail-receiving surface provided with a recess extending longitudinally of said crosstie, an insert of disparate material disposed within said recess, said gage means comprising gage clips attached to the upper surface of said crosstie and having lip portions overlying said rail base, said restricting means comprising a unitary rail anchor engaging said rail base, said anchor having a vertical rib depending from said rail base and freely insertable within said crosstie recess to provide a tieengaging anchor during creeping of the rail, whereby wave motion of the rail and thus vertical movement of said anchor rib permits free vertical displacement of said anchor rib within said recess while restricting creeping of the rail as said rib engages the walls of said crosstie recess.
 2. A railway assembly according to claim 1 wherein said insert is dielectric.
 3. A railway assembly according to claim 1 wherein said insert includes lateral arms projecting outwardly from the top of said recess to provide a rail base platform in a plane above the plane of said crosstie rail-receiving surface.
 4. A railway assembly according to claim 3 wherein said rail-receiving surface includes a planar depression adjacent said recess and said insert lateral arms are disposed within said depression.
 5. A railway assembly including a crosstie, a rail having a base, means maintaining the gage of said rail upon said crosstie, and means restricting the longitudinal travel of said rail upon said crosstie, said crosstie having a rail-receiving surface on the upper surface thereof for the support of said rail base, said rail-receiving surface provided with a recess extending longitudinally of said crosstie, said gage means comprising gage clips attached to the upper surface of said crosstie and having lip portions overlying said rail base, said gage clips including a field side and a gage side clip disposed on opposite sides of said rail base, each said clip provided with a horizontal top section having a depending nose portion opposite said lip portion engaging said crosstie adjacent said rail-receiving surface, a leg depending from said top section intermediate said lip and nose portions and engaging said rail-receiving surface adjacent the edge of said rail base, said restricting means comprising a unitary rail anchor engaging said rail base, said anchor having a vertical rib depending from said rail base and freely insertable within said crosstie recess to provide a tie-engaging anchor during creeping of the rail, whereby wave motion of the rail and thus vertical movement of said anchor rib permits free vertical displacement of said anchor rib within said recess while restricting creeping of the rail as said rib engages the walls of said crosstie recess and said gage clip leg and lip portions are spaced from said rail base to accommodate wave motion of said rail without pumping of said crosstie.
 6. A railway assembly according to claim 5 including a dielectric coating on the surface of said lip portion and leg juxtaposed said rail base.
 7. A railway assembly including a crosstie, a rail having a base, means maintaining the gage of said rail upon said crosstie, and means restricting the longitudinal travel of said rail upon said crosstie, said crosstie having a rail-receiving surface on the upper surface thereof for the support of said rail base, said rail-receiving surface provided with a recess extending longitudinally of said crosstie, said recess having a T-shaped configuration in cross section and said crosstie includes a pair of opposed sHoulder portions intermediate the top and bottom of said recess and defining therebetween a narrow tongue portion in the lower segment of the recess, said gage means comprising gage clips attached to the upper surface of said crosstie and having lip portions overlying said rail base, said restricting means comprising a T-shaped unitary rail anchor engaging said rail base, said anchor having a vertical rib depending from said rail base and freely insertable within said crosstie recess and its tongue portion to provide a tie-engaging anchor during creeping of the rail, whereby wave motion of the rail and thus vertical movement of said anchor rib permits free vertical displacement of said anchor rib within said recess while restricting creeping of the rail as said rib engages the walls of said crosstie recess.
 8. A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein one end of said crosstie recess extends past said rail-receiving surface to permit installation and removal of said rail anchor with said rail base supported upon said rail-receiving surface.
 9. A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein said rail anchor comprises a T-shaped stock and said recess is T-shaped in cross section. 10 A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein said recess is substantially medially disposed between the opposite sides of said crosstie and one of said clips is provided on each side of said rail and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said recess.
 11. A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein said crosstie comprises prestressed concrete.
 12. A railway assembly according to claim 7 wherein said crosstie comprises synthetic resin. 